Page 5086 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 28 November 2017
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Canberra with his wife Maureen in 1974. It wasn’t until 2008 that he embarked on a career in politics. But like so many Liberals, Steve was an active citizen in his community for many years before. He made an enormous contribution to sport in the ACT especially in soccer where he had an active involvement in Capital Football including as President at a number of local clubs. And I am sure Steve is incredibly proud to have seen soccer develop and grow into a major force in Australia with our national team, the Socceroos, qualifying for the World Cup.
Steve spent many years in business working for a number of technology companies here in the ACT before embarking on that political career 9 years ago. Where he has been perhaps unsurprisingly, the Shadow Minister for ICT for much of this period. He has held a number of other portfolios including education, sport and multicultural affairs. So I want to congratulate Steve, as we all do tonight, for his years of service and his many achievements. He has been having a tough time lately and I know the Canberra Liberals and Liberals everywhere are sending our love at this time, our love and best wishes. And I want to thank Steve for his remarkable service here in the ACT.
I seek leave to table the address by the Prime Minister.
Leave granted.
MR HANSON: I table the following paper:
Mr Steve Doszpot MLA—Copy of address to the Canberra Liberals Annual General Meeting on 23 November 2017 by the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, Prime Minister of Australia.
MRS JONES (Murrumbidgee) (10.41): It is my privilege to stand today and add some short words and my voice to all those speaking in tribute to Steve Doszpot MLA, who passed away surrounded by his loved ones this Saturday past.
I honour Steve for his tenacity, for his ability to notice when people were suffering around him, and for his determination to give back to a country and a community that had welcomed him as a boy and as a new Australian.
Steve here, just weeks ago, astoundingly, managed to deliver his own valedictory speech in typical fashion, focused on others and not himself. It is strange to think that we will not see his thoughtful face around these corridors anymore. I will miss, a bit, the uncle-like advice he used to give me over the past few years. He said to me once, “Giulia, I understand you. I have been a strong and passionate fighter all my life, and sometimes we have to learn to let some things go.” So in some ways we understood each other quite well.
Steve is survived by his great wife, Maureen, whom he was so devoted to, and his two beautiful children, Amy and Adam, and their families, all givers to the community like Steve. I am sure Maureen will have all the love possible around her as you all come to terms with this loss.
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